Academic standing describes a student’s grade-point average (GPA) relative to the minimum 2.000 GPA required for all bachelor’s degrees in the College of Letters & Science (L&S). All undergraduate students in Letters & Science must earn at least a 2.000 cumulative University GPA to be eligible for a degree, and academic standing provides important information to a student on their ability to meet that goal.

Academic standing is based on the student’s most recent academic standing status, cumulative University GPA, and Term GPA.  Each school or college at UW–Madison may set its own definitions of academic standing, so these definitions are particular to Letters & Science students. The definitions below also appear in Guide. 

Academic standing is calculated after each Fall, Spring, or Summer term in which a student completes at least one for-credit class and earns a Term GPA. Academic standing may be calculated on the basis of a single graded course and may be updated later if there are changes to Term GPA (for example, when grade changes or late drops are processed). See L&S Academic Standing for more detail.

Good Academic Standing

Good academic standing is a signal that a student is progressing toward the minimum graduation requirements. Students are in good academic standing when their cumulative University GPA and most recent Term GPA are both 2.000 or higher. New students who have not yet established a University GPA are in good academic standing.  

Academic Probation and Suspension

These academic standing designations alert the student that they are not meeting the minimum GPA requirement for their degree.  When either a student’s cumulative University GPA or their most recent Term GPA is 0.000 to 1.999, the student will have an academic standing of probation, strict probation, or suspension, according to the L&S Academic Standing Chart.

More detailed information can be found at probation.

L&S undergraduate students who have earned a Term GPA of 0.000 to 1.999 in at least two consecutive terms will be suspended. Students who are academically suspended may not enroll at UW–Madison for three consecutive terms (a combination of Fall, Spring, and Summer). More detailed information about academic suspension can be found at your academic suspension year.  Additional  information about readmission can be located at readmission after academic suspension.  

Updated on 11 October 2024